Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 3 August 2026
About the release
One of the rarest Player Exclusives in Jordan Brand history is finally getting a public release. The Jordan 3 'Laser' was originally gifted to Michael Jordan for his 40th birthday in 2003 — a one-of-one PE with laser-etched illustrations across the entire upper. Rumours suggest as few as 40 pairs ever existed, most given to friends and family. This is the first time the design has been made available at retail, released globally for the first time in 23 years. Style code JA1369-001.
The design revolves around the idea that "greatness is made up of countless details". The upper carries an all-over laser-etched graphic tapestry across a premium leather Phantom / Sail base — every etching references Michael Jordan's life, personal interests, cultural moments and career achievements. Jordan Brand notes each closer look reveals new details. Low-pile premium brown suede replaces the AJ3's signature elephant print overlays across the toe box, heel counter and collar. The Nike Air heel branding is itself laser-inscribed — the same detail seen recently on the AJ3 Bin 23. A white midsole and brown outsole ground the palette.
UK release is Saturday 22 August 2026 at 8:00 AM for £190 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers.
TL;DR – Air Jordan 3 'Laser' JA1369-001 Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- UK release date: Saturday 22 August 2026 at 8:00 AM
- Model: Air Jordan 3 Retro
- Colourway: Phantom / University Red / Palomino / Sail
- Style code: JA1369-001
- UK retail price: £190
- US retail price: $230
- Sizing: Men's sizing
- Where to buy: Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers
- Originally released: 2003 PE — first-ever public retail release
- Key details: Off-white premium leather upper, all-over laser-etched storytelling graphics referencing MJ's life and career, low-pile brown suede toe box / heel counter / collar (replacing elephant print), gold inner lining, gold Jumpman tongue logo, Nike Air TPU heel branding (laser-inscribed), unique sockliner branding, visible heel Air bubble, white midsole, brown rubber outsole
Release date and price
The Air Jordan 3 'Laser' releases globally on Saturday 22 August 2026 at 8:00 AM via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. UK retail is £190, with US retail set at $230. Men's sizing across the run.
The 'Laser' PE has been a chase-tier grail in Jordan collector circles since 2003. Public availability at retail for the first time — combined with the AJ3's ongoing strong 2026 year and Jayson Tatum wearing the pair at a London event to preview the release — sets this up as one of the highest-demand AJ3 drops of the year. Expect a competitive SNKRS launch.
Design and details
The 'Laser' concept is straightforward on paper — take a leather upper and laser-etch it with detailed graphics — but the execution is where it earns its status. The 2003 PE was one of the earliest Jordan Brand applications of the technique, and the design language it created has been referenced repeatedly across the wider 'Laser' Jordan catalogue since. This 2026 retail release is the first proper public execution of the AJ3 version.
Laser-etched storytelling upper
The upper is built from a premium off-white leather base in Phantom / Sail tones, treated as a blank canvas for an all-over laser-etched graphic tapestry. The etched illustrations run across the entire shoe, forming what Jordan Brand describes as "a tapestry of MJ's life, personal interests and legendary playing career". Every graphic is intended as a tribute to a specific influence, moment or achievement — the design is deliberately layered so that closer inspection reveals new details each time.
Brown suede overlays
Where the AJ3 normally carries elephant print, this pair uses low-pile premium brown suede across the toe box, heel counter and collar. It's a significant material change — the elephant print is arguably the AJ3's most identifiable design element — but the suede works because it lets the laser-etched leather panels remain the visual focal point. Elephant print alongside the etching would be visual overload.
Gold interior detailing
The inside of the shoe carries a bright gold accent envelope across the inner lining — a proper luxury flourish that only really reveals itself when the shoe is off. A golden Jumpman logo sits on the tongue, with matching gold-toned sockliner branding. The gold treatment reads as a direct commemoration of MJ's career trophies and status, rather than a decorative accent.
Laser-inscribed Nike Air heel
The Nike Air heel branding on the TPU heel counter is itself laser-inscribed — an artisan detail that mirrors the treatment applied recently on the Air Jordan 3 Bin 23. It's a small but properly considered touch, tying the branding execution to the shoe's overall craft language.
Sole unit
A visible Air bubble in the heel provides the standard AJ3 cushioning setup, sitting over a white midsole and a brown rubber outsole. The brown outsole is a small but distinctive choice — most modern AJ3s run cream or off-white sole units — and it ties the shoe's palette together properly from top to bottom.
Air Jordan 3 'Laser' images
Credit: Nike
The 2003 PE, the 'Laser' catalogue and Jordan's wider 2026 laser programme
The original AJ3 'Laser' PE was created for Michael Jordan's 40th birthday in 2003. The design was one-of-one, gifted directly to MJ, with rumours suggesting as few as 40 pairs were ever produced in total for friends and family. That level of scarcity made it one of the most chased grail pairs in Jordan collecting for over two decades — a design most collectors knew existed but had virtually no realistic route to owning.
The 'Laser' concept has appeared elsewhere across the Jordan line — most notably on the 2005 Air Jordan 4 Laser pack, which is itself returning as a two-sneaker pack in early 2027. And Jordan Brand has confirmed another 2026 'Laser' execution is arriving: an Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG 'Laser' in a Black / Varsity Red / Summit White palette, running on a black-based canvas rather than the AJ3's light Phantom / Sail one. Together, the AJ3 and AJ1 Low form what looks like a wider 'Laser' revival programme this year.
The Jayson Tatum London preview was a smart rollout move — an active NBA superstar previewing a shoe originally made for MJ himself creates a proper cultural bridge between eras. The AJ3 is arguably having its strongest year in a while, with the Bin 23, Love Letter, Sports Renaissance and now Laser all landing across the same summer.
Where to buy
The Air Jordan 3 'Laser' releases on Saturday 22 August 2026 at 8:00 AM for £190 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Browse the full Jordan 3 collection and the wider Jordan Brand archive on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Air Jordan 3 'Laser' UK release date?
The Air Jordan 3 'Laser' releases globally on Saturday 22 August 2026 at 8:00 AM via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers.
How much does the Air Jordan 3 'Laser' cost in the UK?
UK retail price is £190. US retail is $230.
What is the style code for the AJ3 'Laser'?
The style code is JA1369-001. The full colourway is Phantom / University Red / Palomino / Sail.
Is this the first time the 'Laser' AJ3 has been released to the public?
Yes. The original 'Laser' AJ3 was created as a one-of-one Player Exclusive for Michael Jordan's 40th birthday in 2003, with as few as 40 pairs believed to exist — most gifted to friends and family. This 2026 release is the first time the design has been available at retail, 23 years after the original PE.
What do the laser-etched graphics represent?
The all-over laser-etched pattern is a storytelling tapestry referencing Michael Jordan's life, personal interests, cultural moments and career achievements. Jordan Brand designed the graphics to layer intentionally — each closer inspection is meant to reveal new details as a tribute to the many influences that shaped him.
Are there other 'Laser' Jordans releasing in 2026?
Yes. Jordan Brand has confirmed an Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG 'Laser' in a black-based Black / Varsity Red / Summit White colourway. The 2005 Air Jordan 4 Laser pack is also expected to return as a two-sneaker pack in early 2027.
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